This information is useful, especially if you see resource/startup times increasing when you start up your PC.
Today there is also an increasing need to use firewalls, especially if you are 'on' the internet all day via cable
or DSL. I somehow got a program on my pc that generated despicable kinds of webpage popups. Ad-aware was able to
clobber the program generating the pop-ups and remove (or quarantined) the offending program. If you are having PC
troubles, I would recommend that you explore some or all of these possible solutions.
Using MSCONFIG:
Using MSCONFIG (not available with all windows flavors - see instruction to alternative programs) to eliminate
unnecessary startup processes.
Instructions:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
All started tasks:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_all.php
Now by carefully checking the list on the startup page from the startup processes in MSCONFIG (I spent about 2
hours doing this), I was able to go from 41 processes (some of it spyware) to 17/18 processes and faster startup
time. You may want to run Ad-aware first. It will clean up the bad stuff first and you will spend less time comparing.
Dealing with spy-ware:
Ad-Aware
- http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
- (Paid versions are also available) - don't forget that this has an definition module (like virus detectors) that will
need to be updated on occasion.
Search n Destroy
- http://www.safer-networking.org/
- (donations requested but not enforced) - also has a definition module that needs to be updated occasionally.
These are not the only programs out there that can deal efficently with this problem. These are just programs I am
personally familiar with. You can find other programs if you go to DOWNLOAD.CNET.COM
and do a search on spyware.
Personal Firewalls:
Zone Alarm
- http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp?lid=ho_za
- offers free and paid versions.
Black Ice
- http://blackice.iss.net/
- was once upon a time free but now cost 40 dollars.
DOWNLOAD.CNET.COM has a trial download at
http://download.com.com/3000-2092-10175148.html?tag=lst-0-6
McAafees and Norton (Semantec) now also offer firewalls for a fee.
DOWNLOAD.CNET.COM will list out many other programs if you do a search on firewalls.
FAQ on firewalls:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/firewalls-faq/ (Technical)
Also, this is a very good article on Spyware at
http://www.intranetjournal.com/spyware/spyintroprint.html
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